Joseph Phillips, actor, author, lecturer, and social commentator, will be on campus Thursday, October 5, to discuss his new book "He Talk Like a White Boy."

At 11 a.m. in Nestor Hall Auditorium, Phillips will discuss his collection of provocative essays on a wide range of issues from politics and race to marriage and family. Through the lenses of character, family, faith, idealism and identity, Phillips takes aim at hot-button issues and speaks to the fact that authenticity is more complicated than one's choice of words or music.

In the book's foreword, radio and TV host Tavis Smiley says, "It takes a lot of courage to write and say things that aren't politically correct, or to challenge black leaders and the beliefs held by many black folks in this country...[and] to broach the subject of race or racism, even among people who look like you."

Of the book, "Publishers Weekly" says, "At best, riffing on the difficulties of not conforming to stereotypes in a nation that refuses to shed them, Phillips is thought provoking and moving...Phillips' opinions may be the driving force behind his writing, but it's his lived experience that is likely to persuade readers of all colors--black, white, red, or blue--that he has something to say."

"...riffing on the difficulties of not conforming to stereotypes in a nation that refuses to shed them..."

Best known for his role on "The Cosby Show" as Denise's husband Lt. Martin Kendall, Phillips currently stars in the new TV show "Vanished." His film credits include starring roles in "Strictly Business," "Let's Talk About Sex," and "Midnight Blue." Phillips has appeared in the Broadway production of "Six Degrees of Separation," the Kennedy Center and American Playhouse productions of "A Raisin in the Sun," and the off-Broadway production of "Coriolanus."

His essays have been published in "Newsweek," the "Los Angeles Daily News," "Essence Magazine," "USA Today," "Jewish World Review," and BET.com. His weekly column, "The Way I See It," appears in "The Columbus Post," "Miami Times," "Akron Reporter," and "The Chicago Defender," among others.

Phillips attended the University of the Pacific in central California as a communications major. Once bitten by the theater bug, he transferred to the acting conservatory at New York University where he earned a B.F.A. in acting in 1983.

He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors Equity Association, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Phillips' discussion and book signing following the lecture are free and open to the public.

Be safe: Cross Cleveland at the traffic light

With more college employees and students crossing Cleveland Avenue, John Nestor, Director of Public Safety, urges everyone to cross at the traffic light at the corner of Cleveland and Mt. Vernon.

"The city has installed signs for drivers to yield to pedestrians at the Grove Street crosswalk," John says, "but the safest place, by far, to cross Cleveland Avenue is at Mt. Vernon."

In the past two weeks, two students have been hit while crossing at the Grove Street crosswalk.

The opening of the Center for Workforce Development has significantly increased the number of students, employees, and visitors crossing Cleveland Avenue. Pedestrian traffic will increase further when the Discovery Exchange opens in November.

Terri Gehr, senior vice president of business and administrative services and CFO, says, "We have worked with the city for months, and we will continue to do so to try to make the Grove Street crosswalk as safe as possible, but we really urge everyone to cross at the traffic light."

New faculty get acquainted with college

Before the start of fall quarter, newly hired full-time faculty, many who had been adjuncts, gathered for a three-day orientation to get better acquainted with Columbus State.

Approximately 25 representatives from the college presented information on various topics to assist the new faculty in being successful at Columbus State, with best practices in teaching, civility in the classroom, and assessment as the key issues discussed.

President Moeller and Provost Adkins welcomed the new faculty and addressed governance and learning systems. Three current faculty--Erica Swarts, Social & Behavioral Sciences; Brenna Michelis, Developmental Education; and Rick Bartlett, Business--participated on a panel answering questions about teaching, committees, promotion and tenure.

As part of the Columbus State Wellness Initiative, Student Activities is putting a team together to participate in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Making Strides is a noncompetitive five-mile walk that takes place in more than 100 cities across the country.

Donna Weyrich, associate professor in ESL, and Evelyn Hall, adjunct professor in ESL, have published the textbook "The Reading-Writing Workshop: Strategies for the College Classroom." The book was published by the University of Michigan Press.

Garry Fourman chair of Modern Languages, says "Donna and Evelyn are both exemplary teachers, and students highly respect them. They have worked very hard over the last few years to bring this book from an idea to a realization."

Fourman joins Society for the Study of Time

Garry Fourman, chair of Modern Languages, has been invited to join The International Society for the Study of Time.

The society was founded in 1966 by Dr. J. T. Fraser, acknowledged to be the world's leading scholar in the interdisciplinary study of time. Since its founding, the society has grown to several hundred members from a wide variety of disciplines–anthropology, astronomy, communication, economics, history, law, linguistics, the arts, mathematics, medical sciences, physics, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology–from countries throughout the world.

The Discovery Exchange at Columbus State - Opens November 2006!

When the Discovery Exchange at Columbus State opens in November, it will be the one place with everything you need. Inside the complex, you'll find the new Café DX and Barista, the DX Copy Center, and our DX On-the-Go convenience store. In addition to textbooks, the DX will offer fresh flowers, dry-cleaning services, an expanded line of art supplies, general reading books, gifts and apparel, computer supplies, and cell phones.

The DX's location is 283 Cleveland Avenue. For more information, call 287-2427.

SBDC offers seminars to help entrepreneurs

If you've ever considered launching a new business, the Small Business Development Center at Columbus State can help you explore the art and science of building a business.

Through a special 10-session NxEntrepreneurs program, participants will learn proper business practices and produce a comprehensive business plan. The sessions include:

Introduction, Overview, Entrepreneurship

Planning and Research

Management and Legal Structure

Marketing Strategies, Tactics and Implementation

Financial Overview: Books, Records and Controls

Financial Planning and Budgeting

Using your Financial Statements

Financing Your Business, Sources of Capital

Negotiating in the Real World

Business Growth and Management

The sessions will take place every Tuesday from October 3-December 12, from noon-1 p.m. at the Center for Workforce Development in Room 312. The fee is $79 plus class materials.

To register, call 287-5300.

Workshops offered to help those preparing for retirement

Columbus State's Time of Your Life Center's Movin' On Network will present two courses to help those preparing for retirement: "One Step Closer to the Time of Your Life: An Introduction to Life Planning" and "The Power of Planning for Midlife and Beyond."

"One Step Closer to the Time of Your Life" addresses the questions and concerns of individuals who are preparing for, or are in the process of, transitioning to the next stage of their lives. Through individual and group activities, passions that guide adult life, those that are most influential in your life today, and those you want to influence your tomorrows will be discussed.

An Introduction to Life Planning, course number: CPEPDV-161, will be held in two sessions: Thursday, September 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in WD 303, and Tuesday, October 3, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in WD 353. The cost is $15 or free to Life Long Learning Institute and Time of Your Life Center members.

The Power in Planning for Midlife and Beyond, course number CPEPDV-108, uses individual and group exercises to explore the adult life cycle as a series of transitions and chapters that result in continuous self-renewal by setting new goals, identifying action steps to reach those goals, and beginning a new life chapter with greater confidence.

The Power of Planning for Midlife and Beyond will be held October 16, 23, 30, and November 6, and 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in WD 354. The $85 cost includes course materials.

Both programs will be facilitated by Dr. Christina Butler, retirement coach and educational consultant.

To register for either program, call 287-5858.

AQIP Constellation Survey winners announced

Over the past several weeks, a total of 860 Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Constellation Surveys were completed.

On Saturday, September 30, East High School will hold their homecoming dance on Columbus State's campus. Due to renovations at their Broad Street location, the high school has moved to the North Adult Education Center.